TourKon 2023

Over 80 young tourism professionals on a workshop cruise with the Young TIC

From October 30 to November 1, 2023, it was "Cast off!" for the 22nd TourKon. The workshop river cruise for young tourism professionals offers students and young professionals from the tourism industry the opportunity to get to know the decision-makers in tourism companies, make initial contacts in the professional world and network with like-minded young talents. For the sixth time, TourKon was organized under the auspices of the Young Travel Industry Club (Young TIC).

More than 80 young tourism professionals took part in the three-day trip on board the VIVA MOMENTS from VIVA Cruises from Mannheim up the Rhine via Strasbourg to Breisach. The program included workshops by partner companies from various segments of tourism, such as AERTiCKET, Chamäleon, Lobster Experience, pepXpress, Sauerland Tourismus and Service Reisen. They presented topics that were as diverse as they were practical: pepXpress, for example, dealt with "Customer satisfaction as a tool for recommendation marketing" and Sauerland Tourismus with the question "How can destination marketing shape the sustainable development of a region?" Sustainability was also the topic of the Chameleon workshop: "Sustainable travel - what we can do to stop the inevitable". Service Reisen dealt with the planning of B2B group trips and how to deal with necessary changes at short notice, while AERTiCKET explored the question of how established companies can stand out from the often-hyped start-ups on the job market for young talent. Lobster Experience dealt with the psychological question: "Career versus profession(s) - luxury for the soul." And Service Reisen had the participants transfer the concept of organized group travel to new, younger target groups, true to the motto: "Make group travel great again!"

As in the previous year, the two workshop rounds were spread over two days. This allowed the participants to enjoy a free morning in Strasbourg and explore the capital of Alsace on their own. The second round of workshops was followed by the so-called Career Talk. Here, the participants were able to talk to company representatives and other students in a relaxed atmosphere about career topics that affect them personally - from mobile working to specific entry opportunities for university graduates

A TourKon tradition is the booth talk on the first evening, where the Young TIC volunteers and TourKon organizers provide insights into their professions and career paths. This year, the five topics ranged from career opportunities in the event industry and working in an international start-up to working in field sales.

The program was rounded off with two evening events organized by IST University and VIVA Cruises. The "IST Pub Quiz" revolved around questions about tourism in general and the IST University of Applied Sciences in particular. At the VIVA Cruises Night, participants had the chance to win attractive prizes, including two river cruises with VIVA Cruises. There were also top-class prizes at the annual TourKon raffle. This year's main prize was a five-day stay at the Heritance Aarah Hotel in the Maldives, sponsored by Lobster Experience.

Prof. Dr. Ralf Vogler, Director of Studies at Heilbronn University and patron of TourKon, was very pleased with how the trip went: "As every year, the students made extensive use of the varied program and the opportunity to network. TourKon once again proved that tourism is a diverse and familiar industry that thrives on personal interaction."

Andrea Kruse, COO of VIVA Cruises, summed up the trip as follows: "The future of the tourism industry lies in the hands of our young talent. As a river cruise operator, it is a matter close to our hearts to promote their development and give them the opportunity to develop their talents. That is why we are very happy to support events such as the Tourkon, where more than 80 young professionals from the tourism industry came on board with us this year. We know that these young people are the ones who will drive our industry forward and develop it further," says Andrea Kruse, COO of VIVA Cruises.

The Young Travel Industry Club is the leading community for young professionals in the travel industry. Through its events, the club enables networking between students, young professionals and start-ups with the established players in the tourism industry as well as knowledge transfer.